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5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Modei.)

C. W. F. THODE. BWELoPB FOLDING MACHINE.

Patented Nov. 10,1891.

(No Model.) 5 Sheefs-Sheet 2.

C. W. FpTHODE. BNVBLOPE FOLDING MACHINE.

No. 462,746. Patented Nov. 10, 1891.

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v(No Model.) 5 Sheets- Sheet 3.

G. W. F. THODE. BNVBLOPB PDLDING MAGHINE.

No. 462,746. Patented Nbv. 10,1891.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

C. W. P. THODE.

ENVBLOPE FOLDING MACHINE.

No. 462,746. Patented Nov. 10, 1891.

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(No Model.) v 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

C. W. F. THODE. ENVBLOPB FOLDING MACHINE.

No. 462.746. Patented Nov. 10, 1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL IYILIIELM FRIEDRICH THODE, OF HAMBURG, GERMANY.

ENVELOPE-FOLDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,746, dated November 10, 1891. Application filed February 5, 1891. Serial No. 380,392. (No model.) Patented in Germany December 23, 1890. No. 55,327'

110 all wwm it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL WILHELM FRIED- RICH THODE, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Hamburg, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelope-Folding Machines, (patented in Germany December 23, 1890, No. 55,827,) of which the following is a specification.

The purpose of my envelope machine (shown in accompanying drawings) is to inechanically make a complete envelope from the properly-cut paper sheets.

Figure lis a front view. Fig. 2 is a side view with the frame partly removed. Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views of the machine. Figs. 5 and G are detail views. Fig. 7 is a view of the mucilage-vessel. Fig. S is a section of the same, showing the arrangement of the Sponges, an d Fig. 9 is a view of its holder.

Into the top of a table of suitable size and height, so that the workman can perform all the necessary work while sitting, a plate A is fitted, on which the different parts are mounted. On the same are the four shafts a a2 a3 a", which are of lthe cross-section shown in Figs. 5 and 6. rlhis form was chosen so that the shafts turn accuratelyin the bearings, Fig. 5, while those parts which turn with the shaft iit the straight or fiat surfaces thereof, Fig. G. The bearings b b2 for the journals of the shaft a are stationary on plate A. The bearing h also serves for the shaft a3, which latter also runs in bearing e, which is fixed tight on plate A, while its end journal is supported by bearing c. The shaft a2 runs in the bearings c c2, and its end journal in the bearing c3. Finally, the shaft a4 runs by its end journals in the bearings d d2, and is supported besides by bearing c3. As is seen from the drawings, all bearings, with the exceptions of M122, and e, can be adjusted. They are arranged so that they can only move parallel or normal to the axle. The two side pieces c c4 are adjustable in the parallel grooves c5 of plate A, while they are fastened by the movable screws c7 in the slot c6. The bearing c2 can also be moved as desired and secured by the fastening-screw f', which is set in one of the holes f. The bearing d fits in slot d3.

Finally, the extension of c3 is slotted and engaged by bolts g', which are situated in the slots g.

The shafts carry between the bearings b c c3 d fiaps, which are hollowed out square, so that they must take part in the rotation of the shafts. The middle flaps hare to be considered as sleeves, while the outer iiaps 7i are set fast in the shafts by means of thumbscrews. whereby also the sliding of the shafts in the bearings is prevented. Each shaft fui'- ther bears pulleys 7c 7a2 7c3 7a4, provided with two grooves and whose naves are bored square, so that by turning the pulleys the shafts turn therewith; also, the iiaps are turned. rljhe pulleys are now situated in the following manner: On the shaft B, which is underneath the table, two treadles C D are arranged. Treadle D for the right foot bears a long rod E, While the left treadle C is provided with a stirrup F and the movable turning rod F2 on the segment F. From the ends of the rod E two cords run to the pulleys 7o k2, and from the arni F2 two other cords run to the pulleys 7a3 7a4. The ends of the cords are so fastened to the pulleys that through` pressing down the treadles or drawing the cords the pulleys will turn toward one another, smo that the flaps which are on the shafts lie toward the inside-that is, so as to be in the position marked in dotted lines in Fig. el. To bring thetlaps back to their original position, (drawn in full lines in Fig. 4,) a second cord is attached to pulley 7.3', whose other end .is attached to a strong spring Z. By actuating the treadles these springs are compressed, so that when the treadles are let free all parts are brought baci: to their original position through the action of the springs. As the positions of the pulleys 7a2 and 7a4 are adjustable on the plate of the table, the holders for the springs belonging thereto are also Inovable and are connected rigidly with the part-s of the bearings c and c2 which are underneath the plate A. Several rollers 7c 7e serve as guide-pulleys for the cords. If the treadle C is actuated, the flaps of the shafts a a4 are actuated, and by the pressing down of the treadle D the flaps on the shafts a. Va2 are actuated.

On the back side of t-lie table-plate is a shaft m, supporting pivotally theangular-sliaped IOO lever G, whose long arm is provided with the handle H and which bears the tracks or guides n n2. In each of these tracks are two broad but very flat dies 19'192, which are movable and are set in the desired position by means of screws. Furthermore, the lever G has on a bolt K two holders o" r2, carrying receptacles r3, which contain mucilage. This arrangement is for the purpose of supplying the lower flap of the envelope with mucilage, which permeates through the Sponges arranged in the lower edge of the vesselrg. The outer end m of the lever G carries the counterweight m2. The lever G is adjustable longitudinally on shaft m, and the dies ppz are f adjustable in the tracks n n2.

The machine is now handled in the following manner: The workman takes one of the properly-cut sheets of paper, wh ose upper ap has already been provided with gum, and puts it on the machine in such a way that when dies p p2 are pressed down they just strike the places where the fold should be. The dies wil-1 press the paper down somewhat and. thereby the lower ap will come in contact with the gum-giving Sponges of the Ves-V sel r left treadle C is pressed down, whereby the flaps on shafts a3 a4 are turned over, and thereby also the side flaps of the envelope. Now lever G is hel'd up and the right treadle D is pressed down. As the cord running from rod E to disk 7a2 is drawn a little tighter, shaft a2 will rotate before shaft a. Theliaps on axle a2 will press the under flap, whose gum is still damp, tightly onto the side flaps, while the flaps of shaft ct only produce the folding 'Vhile the lever G is held down the,

madeready for the manufacture of the nextV envelope. As has been observed, the upper or closing flaps'Y` of the envelopes are provided with gum before they are placed in the manner described into the machine.

On the machine as described any sort of envelope can be made without replacing any part thereof. A simple adjustment of the respective parts suffices.

I claim- CL a2 co5 a4, arranged in pairs, folding aps mounted thereon, and means for actuating the shafts, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the four adjustable folding shafts, arranged in pairs and having folding flaps, and treadles connected with said shafts for oscillating them, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the fourshafts arranged in pairs and having the folding flaps, suitable bearings for said shafts, certain of which are adjustable, the hand-lever G, a shaft m on which said lever is mounted and adjustable, dies carried by said lever, and a gu 1nming-vessel also carried by said level', suhstantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

CARL lVlLHEhlll FRIEDRICH 'lllOlllL Witn esses:

ALFRED JOSEPH, SIGFRIED KAMMES.

l. The combination of the adjustable shafts 

